Steam vacuum-pump.



Patented Mar. 6, I900.

F. R. CRUMBAKER. STEAM VACUUM PUMP.

(Application filed Apr. 13, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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' Wit asses ms worms PETERS c0 PNOTO-LITNO,WASNINGYQN, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED R. CRUMBAKER, OF MENDON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HENRY D. OUSHMAN, OF THREE RIVERS, MICHIGAN.

STEAM VACUUM-PUMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 644,582, dated March 6, 1900.

' Application filed April 13, 1898. Serial No. 677,516. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRED R. ORUMBAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Mendon, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Low-Pressure Steam Vacuum-Pumps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in low-pressure steam vacuum-pumps. It is an improvement in many particulars on the lowpressure steam vacuum-pump shown and claimed in Letters Patent issued to me on the 19th day of April, 1898, No. 602,498.

The objects of this invention are, first, to provide an improved construction whereby the infiowing water serves to efficiently and quickly condense the steam to form the vacuum for the pump; second, to provide an improved means of controlling the valves, whereby the full operation of the entire pump-chamber is secured at each stroke; third, to provide an improved construction of the means for starting a low-pressure steam vacuum=pump, and, fourth, to provide a pump that may be successfully operated by the use of exhaust-steam.

Further objects will definitely appear in the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in this specification.

The invention is definitely pointed out in the claims.

The structure is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical detail sectional elevation through a pump and its various parts embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the lower end of a hook for manipulating the steam-valve for starting the pump. Fig. 3 is a detail top plan view of a portionof the float O.

In the drawings similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

I Referring to the lettered parts of the drawings, A is the main cylinder or chamber of the pump, having a head A at the top and A at the bottom.

neath the false bottom B.

B is an internal chamber open at the top and having a bottom 13, which amounts to a false bottom in the main chamber. A space is left between the false bottom B and the bottom A. An inlet-pipe J, with a suit able pump or check-valve J therein, connects to the bottom of the main chamber be- An outlet-pipe I connects through a suitable passage to the bottom of the internal chamber B and has a suitable check-valve I therein. On the top A is secured a globe-valve K by a suitable piece of pipe K. This is for use in starting the pump.

G is a steam-supply pipe containing asuit= able check-valve E, which has an outwardly projecting spindle D, which is suitably guided and has a button D at the top. A spindle F, having a suitable disk handle F, projects down through a stuffing-box L and terminates in a hook F, which straddles the stem D of the valve E. The lower end of the stem D is provided with an eye, and to this is connected a rod D, which .rod projects to the bottom of the chamber B. A float O is secured to the bottom end of the rod D and is guided in the bottom of the chamber by upwardly-projecting pins 0 in tubular openings through said float. This float controls the inlet of steam by raising the valve E and by closing the same when the pump is empty. A smaller float H is just above the float O and has a rod H pro jecti'ng out through the top A. This rod is of sufficient length to reach well toward the bottom of the chamber and is suitably guided by a guide M within and has a small plugvalve H to close the perforation serving as a vent to admit air to break the vacuum. The rod 11 is made of considerable length in order that the vents may be held open until the water has descended well down to the The pipe G is connected to a suitable source of steam-supply, which in this construction must be of comparatively-low pressure. The valve E is first raised to admit steam and the valve K is opened to allow the escape of air within. When the steam has displaced the air within the pump, the valve K is closed and the valve E is allowed to drop upon its seat. When this is done, the steam in the chamber immediatelybeginsto condense and create a vacuum, which draws the water up through the pipe J past the valve J. The water entering between the bottom A and the false bottom I3 chills the chamber, which increases the condensation, when the water immediatelyrises around the outside ofthe chamber 13 just within the outer wallA, thus much enhancing condensation until the water rises to the top of the chamber 13, when it overflows into the said chamber, very rapidly condensing the steam and filling the chamber. WVhen the chamber is filled to a sutficient height, the apparatus being adjusted so that the water will fill it to near the top, the float H, through the connecting-rod H, opens the vent-valve H and allows the air to enter. As soon as the air enters the vacuum is broken, and this allows the large float O to at once open through its connections D the valve E. This admits the steam at once, and the steam and air together allow the accumulated water to drop quickly through the pipe I and be discharged. As soon as the water sufliciently descends the weight of the float H closes the vent'valve H". This stops the inlet of air. The float C also closes the valve E, when, owing to the body of cold water surrounding the chamber B, condensation is very rapid, and a fresh supply of water is drawn through the pipe J past valve J, and owing to the suction valve I is closed. The process of induction and discharge is again repeated and repeated indefinitely until the machine is stopped by opening the valve K or otherwise interfering with the format-ion of the vacuum.

It will be observed that by this construction the inlet-waterserves to rapidly condense the steam within the pump-chamber both by a surface condenser and when the water reaches the top of the chamber B by a jet condensation, thus operating with great rapidity, and it is possible with a pump of very moderate size to pump a large quantity of water with comparatively little steam-pressure.

I desire to state that the arrangement of floats Ihave shown would be utilized in connection with a high-pressure steam vacuumpump; but as this would require a different arrangement of stops I have not attempted to illustrate such a high-pressure device. In this connection I merely mention it to show that I have in mind the broader use of this style of floats than presented in this connection. I desire to state in this connection also that the construction of my steam vacuumpump can be verygreatlyvaried in its details without departing from my invention. The forms of the chambers are immaterial so long as they admit the water being pumped to secure condensation, as in the manner I have shown. I also desire to state that the pump would operate, though not with such great facility, if the inlet valve and pipe were differently connected and the central chamber omitted. I, however, prefer the construction in the exact form I have shown it, because it utilizes to the fullest extent the condensing power of the water being pumped and it saves all of the heat of the steam employed.

' Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a low-pressure steam vacuum-pump the combination of an exterior or main casing A, with a top and bottom; the steam-pipe G, connecting to the top thereof having avalve within opening outwardly; a connection to said valve sothat it can be opened by hand; a suitable valve orcock supported on the top thereof; a water-inlet pipe containinga checkvalve connecting to the bottom of said main casing; an internal chamber or receiver open at its top and having a bottom within the main chamber; an outlet-passage containing a check-valve connecting to the bottom of the inner chamber, a float located in the bottom of said inner chamber and connected by a suitable rod to the valve in the steam-pipe to control the same; and an additional lighter float toward the bottom of said internal cham= ber connected by a suitable rod to a ventvalve in the top of the main chamber, all co acting together as described for the purpose specified.

2. In a steam vacuum-pump the combination of the exterior main casing, having suit able valve connections for the introduction of steam and the escape of air, and the induc-- tion and eduction of the water and an interior casing having a bottom within the main casing, floats O, and H, therein, said interior casing being open at its top so that the water drawn up bysaid pump shall pass around and overflow into the same to rapidly condense the steam and operate the floats as specified.

3. In a steam vacuum-pump, the combination of an exterior casing havingsuitable connections for the introduction of steam and the escape of air and the induction and eduction of water and an interior casin g within around which the inflowing water passes to rapidly condense the steam within, floats in said in-' terior casing operated by said inflowing water to control the admission of steam and air for the purpose specified.

4. In a steam vacuum-pump the combina-' tion of a casing with suitable valve connec tions for the introduction of steam and the outlet of air and for the induction and eduction of water, avent-valve to break the vacuum, a float operated by the inflowing water supported well down toward the bottom of said casin g and connected to said vent-valvc to conof the same by hand, a float in said chamber 1 operated by the infiowing water connected to said valve to open the same against steampressure when the vacuum is broken for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

FRED R. ORUMBAKER.

Witnesses ERNEST M. HU'ICHINS, CORNELIUS 0. POST. 

